Stress: The Real Killer of Black Americans

Yes.  We are descendants of fore parents whose inherited biological ability for salt retention enabled them to survive the middle passage.

Yes.  Our ancestors’ diets during slavery consisted of high fat, pork and unhealthy foods that gave them the strength to persevere.

But, the reason Blacks are more susceptible to ailments and diseases such as covid-19 is [stress].  Being, the societal ills that are constantly perpetrated on the Black community are the root cause of why our life expectancy is nearly five years shorter and we die from heart disease, stroke and high blood pressure at an alarmingly higher rate than other Americans.

The American system has always been designed with a capitalistic nature and it’s only been until now, and that’s even questionable, that its been challenged by a social equality narrative.  ‘Taxation without Representation,’ sounds like a cry for a communal equivalence but “I’ll give you something to cry for,” should be its ultimate punishment for slavery.  Quite simply, slavery produced the Civil War because the south was profiting very well off of servitude and the north, wasn’t having that.  Meanwhile those slaves, our ancestors, were subjugated to an ill-nutritious diet consisting of pig intestines, feet, snout and ears (nutritionally), abuses of back-breaking labor no less than eighteen hours a day in addition to whipping if they even thought of not performing their tasks (physically) and having the threat of their family being torn apart at any given whim (emotionally) which sums up a genetic predisposition to being a highly stressed individual producing highly stressed offspring which begat a highly stressed class of people – Black Americans.

Ultimately given freedom, these Blacks were again faced with educational, economic, social and judicial hardships that further subjugated them to stressful environments that only enhanced their inabilities to overcome their lack of nutritional, physical and emotional upbringing.  Not being able to read or write, often cheated out of what little earnings they made, relegated to live in the worse parts of town and faced with a constant threat of incarceration or lynched [you decide which was worse]; their stress levels were unimaginable.

Quick side note:  I remember seeing a t-shirt, “Don’t let you president get your ass whipped; we are not our ancestors,” it read.  We are not our ancestors….  If our ancestors fought back, we wouldn’t be here.  If our ancestors didn’t realize that mental toughness usurps any physical retribution to what they encountered, we wouldn’t be here.  If our ancestors didn’t realize  that survival meant ‘internalize the pain,’ we would not be here.  Yes, we are not our ancestors but, not in the way it was quoted.

This is the very definition of stress – physical, emotional and or psychological maladies disolved into an internal dysfunction in order to survive.  Black Americans are walking forms of this manifestation.  In today’s society, there aren’t any more lynchings but the persistent rise in police brutality begs to differ.  Brown v Education eradicated educational differences but, our school systems are more segregated today than before 1954.  Remember how just after slavery, Blacks were offered a certain wage then cheated out of their earnings?  Still today, Black men and women earn less than their counterparts for doing the same job.

Stress.  Yes, we have underlying conditions as Black people because of our history but so do other races.  In the long run, these conditions will kill us but, they’re necessary short term in order for us to survive, pass the traits onto our offspring in hopes that genetic changes will occur for the continued survival of our species.  Evolution 101.  So, we’re no different, biologically, than any other race in terms of design.  That’s the natural aspect that we shouldn’t be too concerned about, it’s the nurturing that gives the true problem.  And that’s the stressful element Black Americans are faced with on a daily basis – The American System.

In order to eradicate this condition, America needs to develop a focus on neutralizing social disparities.  Capitalism is necessary but not at the expense of equality.  There needs to be a balance and this covid-19 is an example of America’s mindset.  Should we get back to work and jumpstart the economy (capitalism) or make sure every American is adequately protected from the virus (social consciousness)?  That balance should be a given and provided to Americans at all times but, this is a crisis, so, what to do during a crisis?  And this always harkens me back to a statement American diplomats always use: “In America’s Best Interest,” when they’re seeking something of importance clandestinely and, one thing I’ve learned through studying the history of the United States is that Black Americans are not in its Best Interest.

Our only true hope is the vote.  If someone’s trying to deny you that right, it’s not in your best interest.  Fight for it and utilize it, it’s the best weapon against oppression – which is just another word for stress.